BlackRock rules out Solana ETF, sticks to Bitcoin and Ethereum – What now?

  • Grayscale faces significant outflows, while BlackRock sees substantial inflows in Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.
  • BlackRock plans no new crypto ETFs beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, focusing on established cryptocurrencies.

As a seasoned analyst with years of experience in the financial markets and a keen interest in the burgeoning crypto space, I find the recent developments surrounding Bitcoin [BTC] and Ethereum [ETH] ETFs particularly intriguing.


There’s been a lot of buzz around Bitcoin [BTC] and Ethereum [ETH] exchange-traded funds (ETFs) among investors lately. Interestingly, Grayscale experienced significant withdrawals last week: $210 million was withdrawn from its ETH ETF and $54.3 million from its Bitcoin ETF on the 29th of July.

On the contrary, BlackRock experienced an influx of approximately $58.2 million into its Ethereum (ETH) ETF and a significant $256.6 million into its Bitcoin (BTC) ETF, both on the same day.

Despite BlackRock’s impressive performance, the overall trend shows that while Bitcoin ETFs experienced net inflows totaling $124.1 million, ETH ETFs saw a net outflow of $98.3 million.

Cohen acknowledges ETH ETF flows

While there’s been a stream of rejections for Ethereum ETF proposals, including the one from BlackRock, Samara Cohen, their CIO, expressed her thoughts in an interview with Bloomberg. To paraphrase, she mentioned that they’re still actively exploring ways to provide Ethereum exposure to investors, but regulatory hurdles remain a challenge.

“This is a story in the early days about access.” 

To fully understand the condition and behavior of ETH ETFs, it’s essential to take into account both the amount of trades being made (trading volumes) and the movement of funds in and out of these funds (fund flows).

Cohen pointed out that about a quarter (25%) of the trading volume in Ethereum ETFs is primarily influenced by large withdrawals. These could potentially stem from costlier ETH ETFs and alternative investment options.

She added, 

“Investors are keen on acquiring Ethereum (ETH) exposure, particularly when it comes to utilizing it within a broader portfolio in a trusted ecosystem they believe in.”

No Solana ETF?

It turns out that Cohen disclosed an unexpected move, stating that BlackRock has no immediate intentions to launch new cryptocurrency ETFs, such as one focused on Solana, in the coming period.

She emphasized that, although Bitcoin and Ethereum have met the firm’s criteria for investment, no other altcoins currently meet the necessary standards. 

“To determine if an asset is suitable for investment in an ETF, we evaluate whether it satisfies the necessary criteria. In our view, both Bitcoin and Ethereum fulfill these requirements. However, it may take some time before other assets reach this level.”

This decision underscores BlackRock’s cautious approach to expanding its crypto ETF offerings, focusing solely on the two most established cryptocurrencies.

As a seasoned financial professional with extensive experience in the digital assets sector, I share the same perspective as BlackRock’s head of digital assets, Robert Mitchnick. Having closely followed the evolution of cryptocurrencies and their related investment vehicles, I can confidently assert that, at this juncture, it seems unlikely that new crypto ETFs will be forthcoming from our firm in the near future. While the potential benefits of these products are undeniable, the current regulatory landscape and inherent risks associated with cryptocurrencies necessitate a more cautious approach. I remain optimistic about the long-term prospects for digital assets, but we must prioritize prudence and diligence in our decision-making process to protect the interests of our clients and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

To summarize, it’s expected that exchange-traded funds focusing on cryptocurrencies, led by BlackRock’s Chief Investment Officer Samara Cohen, could be a common addition to investment portfolios by the year 2024.

BlackRock is strategically choosing a cautious path as they delve into the cryptocurrency market.

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2024-07-31 11:04